Reply to post # 148.
According to
www.newyorktimes.com article of december 12, 2009, "Grave robbers steal Cypriot Presidents remains", this article claims that the late President Tasso Papadoupolos remains has been removed from his casket, the day before the anniversary of his dead. A memorial was to be held of the anniversary of his dead.
Afghanistan, my 2 cents worth.
A british diplomat went in there in the 1820ties, and then warned Britain not to enter, which Britain did anyway in 1837, with 16000 soldiers and camp followers. Only one soldier survied to tell the story. Genghis Khan resorted to mass killings in order to "control" parts of Afghanistan. After 11 years of war, and over 15000 deads, Russian pulled out of Afghanistan, and the saga goes on and on. We all know that the russian defeated the nazi's in four years and the japanese army in Manchuria in tree months...
Will NATO do better than all the previous armies, who the last 2500 years, that all found out, that it was easy to get into Afghanistan, but getting out, alive, is a different matter...
I believe that we have to be prepared for a very long and expensive stay in Afghanistan, if we have to expect any real, positive changes in our favor.
My nephew is going back to Hellman for second time in the new year, and he was shot at 65 times, the last time he was in Afghanistan. He was impressed with the special forces actions, that saved their bacon in a tight situation.